OpenTube

What Happened to the Bonaparte Family After Napoleon?

The Sourced Historian by Jordy

30,132 views

After Napoleon’s fall in 1815, the Bonapartes were driven from France, stripped of their thrones, and scattered across Europe and America, but they kept their money, their name, and their ambition.

In today’s video I follow Napoleon’s family from Joseph Bonaparte’s exile in the United States, through Letizia’s court in Rome, Napoleon’s son imprisoned in Schönbrunn, and the unlikely rise of Louis-Napoléon, who brought the dynasty back to power as Napoleon III.

Research & script by Jordy Faijdherbe
Narrated by Paolo Bellini
Edit by Ryan

Also watch:
🇦🇹🇭🇺 What Happened to the Habsburgs After Their Empire Collapsed? What Happened to the Habsburgs After Their...
🇩🇪 What Happened to Germany’s Royal Family After They Lost the Throne?What Happened to Germany's Royal Family Af...

☕ Support The Sleepy Historian:
buymeacoffee.com/thesourcedhistorian

Subscribe: 👉 @thesourcedhistorian

CHAPTERS
00:00 Napoleon Falls, and the Family Scatters
01:56 Barred From France, But Not From Their Fortune
05:04 Madame Mère's Court in Exile, Rome
08:06 Point Breeze: The King Who Turned Down Mexico
10:16 A Son Raised to Forget His Father
12:10 Death of the Eaglet at Schönbrunn
13:57 Waiting in the Wrong Branch
16:05 A Nephew Nobody Feared Takes the Throne
18:10 An Heir Lost in the Zulu War
20:11 Where the Bonapartes Are Today

📚 Sources I used:
Fondation Napoléon — the institutional backbone: After the Abdication (1814), plus biographies of Napoleon II, Marie-Louise, and Napoleon III. Basis for the family's flight and dispersal, the captive son, and the Second Empire.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — cross-checked dates and titles for the siblings, Marie-Louise, the Duke of Reichstadt, and Napoleon III.
Historic UK & HistoryNet — the death of the Prince Imperial in the Anglo-Zulu War (1 June 1879) and its dynastic consequences.
Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia / Bordentown Historical Society — Joseph Bonaparte at Point Breeze, New Jersey, and the (reputed) Mexican crown offer.
Shannon Selin (shannonselin.com) — detailed, well-sourced articles on Joseph in America, the death of Napoleon II, Letizia Bonaparte, and the family's living descendants.
William H. C. Smith — The Bonapartes: The History of a Dynasty
___________________________________________
The content presented in this video is for educational and informational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate historical information, some details may be subject to interpretation or debate. The views and opinions expressed in this video do not necessarily represent the opinion of The Sourced Historian. This channel does not condone or glorify violence, discrimination, or hate speech of any kind. We aim to respectfully explore and discuss historical events, their impacts, and their legacies.

#napoleónbonaparte #napoleón #historydocumentary #napoleon

20 Comments

@TheSourcedHistorian Creator 2 months ago (edited) Pinned

What surprised you most about what happened to Napoleon’s family? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.👇

And if you’d like to support the channel and help me make more videos like this:
☕ buymeacoffee.com/thesleepyhistoriansleepy

If you liked this video you may also want to watch:
🇦🇹🇭🇺 What Happened to the Habsburgs After Their Empire Collapsed? https://youtu.be/IV8Trd1rH6w
🇩🇪 What Happened to Germany’s Royal Family After They Lost the Throne? https://youtu.be/j_B4CbQklBg

@Billionairestory777 2 months ago

History rarely ends with one person... the families often have stories just as fascinating.

@Financial.Dynasty 2 months ago

This is why I love studying great dynasties. The Bonapartes lost their empire, but they protected the things that matter most in the long run: wealth, family connections, and the power of their name. Crowns disappeared, yet the dynasty returned decades later. History keeps reminding us that influence doesn't always end when political power does.

@jorgecruzseda7551 2 months ago

Never lay only 1 egg, and never place all your eggs in one basket, Bonnies 😢

@viktoriakohler1224 2 months ago

The Bonapartes kept their money and still some influence. At least they managed to marry into the Bourbon family in France. In France there are still three families who may claim to reign France: the Bourbons, the Orleans and the Bonapartes. They show up in public very rarely. May be on marriages.

@LololoLubago 1 month ago

Interesting facts: Corsica was Italian just up to the day of Napoleon’s birthday. There is correspondence and documentation that actually Napoleon s family was Kalimoiris- Greek from Mani. Half of Corsica was newly Greek, leaving ancient colonies aside. Napoleon means “lion of small forest (napa) in Greek.

@szt5213 2 months ago

napoleon's grand nephew, charles joseph bonaparte, papal knight of malta, created the fbi

@mrnobodieswildcampingadventure 2 months ago

I'm a direct descendent of two Irish Kings, both fell to their deaths while drunk, falling off the castle wall into the the marshy bogs and drowned! Hence I do not go near any high castle walls, do not drink and am careful not to fall anywhere! lol

@thomasrengel5577 2 months ago

You left out the Bonaparte that became Attorney General of the United States under Teddy Roosevelt! Anticlimax however: he had no children.

@DanielDishaw 2 months ago

Joseph actually lived in Northern New York for a period of time. Left when the British came after him. He owned 1000s of acres. Two lakes are named after him. Also Bonaparte cave new york state park. He hid in cave when British came. Left area and moved to NYC and long Island.

@Brenda-k3t4g 2 months ago

Not surprised as Quasimodo, the Hunchback of the White House is declining even more! Renown psychologist Dr. Bandy Lee has already stated he's going through a "Narcissistic collapse"! That can lead to a fatal stroke or heart attack in some cases! That was played out in the great film, "The Wife" with Glenn Close whose character's husband was a malignant narcissist and then has a "narcissistic collapse" and dies of a fatal heart attack! "Art imitates life, life imitates art"....food for thought~

@ArtSV22 2 months ago

And they are common people as they should be. May they enjoy their money together, as commoners.

@GurmitBSingh 2 months ago

Prudence!

@ruairiocathain3276 2 months ago

WOW

@AntoineVandenberghe-d7z 2 months ago

Quite good overview in an interesting nutshell

@Gertyutz 2 months ago

Fascinating. I didn't know there was still a descendant of Napoleon.

@2VagantePriesthoof 2 months ago

What is answer to all such questions? New Jersey

@SuchIsLife424 2 months ago

I also read that Joseph Bonaparte encountered the Jersey Devil. Apparently, he shot it with a cannon. Not sure if this is true or just a myth.

@luvslogistics1725 2 months ago

I think a brother in law lived in Florida

@josefa_vJ 2 months ago

The painting we see at 1:02 has nothing to do with Napoleon's family however, does it? Isn't that the Duchess de Montebello, aka Louise Lannes, the widow of one of Napoleon's marshals?